Expandable roofs formed by plates



June 23, 1970 s. M. ZVEIBIL 3,516,472

EXPANDABLE ROQFS FORMED BY PLATES Filed Dec. 26, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1FIG.|

- /NVE/VTO/-?. Salvador Mutheus Zveibil ATTORNEYS June 23, 1970 s. M.ZVEIBIL 3,515,472

EXPANDABLE ROOFS FORMED BY PLATES Filed Dec. 26, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 3ATToRN EYs.

June 23, 1970 s. M. ZVEIBIL 3,516,472

EXPANDABLE ROOFS FORMED BY PLATES Filed Dec. 26, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 II 1 I I I I r I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I1 I II II II II II I 1 1 1 I I rI I I I I I I I I I 1 l 1 1 I I 1 r 1-);

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/NVEN7 '0/f? Solvodor Motheus Zvelbll ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Office 3,516,472 Patented June 23, 1970 3,516,472EXPANDABLE ROOFS FORMED BY PLATES Salvador M. Zveibil, P.O. CentralPostal 12800, Sao Paulo, Brazil Filed Dec. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 693,654Int. Cl. E04f 10/10 U.S. Cl. 160-136 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA roof that is supported by rods in the form of a parallelogram, therods being pivotally connected at the crossing points so that they areexpandable to rectilinear form or collapsible to a substantially linearform always retaining the shape of a parallelogram; a series of nestableplates each pivotably connected to one pair of parallel rods providesthe cover of the roof.

The invention relates to an expandable or collapsible roof formed byrigid plates superposed along the long edges and with any transverseprofile whatsoever, for instance, in S or Z form, undulated or evenflat, giving the impression, when expanded, of an ordinary roof. Theseplates, however, are mounted on a mobile infrastructure articulated in aparallelogramic form and connected by means of several series ofparallel pivots, in such a way that said plates gyrate independently oneof the other, however with coordinated and harmonious movementscorresponding to the parallelogramic displacement of the infrastructure.

In this way, the plates can be grouped together or closed at one side,forming a compact and recoiled or nested superposed series of plates,and having a large retraction coeificient; sometimes fifteen or twentyplates are nested over a single one; as a result, the closed or nestedseries is the shape of a single plate with only the lateral protuberanceproduced by the gyration.

According to the invention several series or groups of pivoting meanscomprising angular pieces are provided between pivoting supports, afirst group of such angular pieces connects the plates to two or morebars, a second group connects the bars to two or more supporting arms,the supporting arms, per se, are angular pieces for connecting to awall; thus this roof provides for a parallelogramic gyration whereeverything rotates horizontally, producing an indifferent equilibriumduring gyration, that is, no strain for the operator even when dealingwith gigantic units.

It is possible, however, to obtain with the proper selection of thegyration directions of the many groups of pivots, the most curious anddifferent effects of inclining or rotating movement of the plates orarms, during gyration. For instance: in the totally open position, depending on how the pivoting means are constructed, the plates may formlarge openings between themselves or form a perfectly closedsuperstructure, and the opposite or the same simultaneously, in theclosed position.

The fact that the mechanism is entirely on pivots, makes it simple andwearproof, not subject to failures. There fore, it is very appropriatefor roofs and awnings of long life.

The freedom of shape of the plates permits the choice from the mostelaborate and beautiful S or Z plate-forms for elegante purposes, to themost economical undulated plate-forms for agricultural and industrialpurposes.

The attached drawings show, by way of illustration, and not for purposesof restriction, the improvements in question.

FIG. I shows schematically a front view of the roof.

FIG. -II is a lateral schematic view. Both FIGS. I and II include theprincipal elements of the inventive idea herein claimed.

FIG. III is a schematic of the vectorial directions of the principalrotation axes.

FIG. IV is a perspective of the roof, showing, in sketch form, itscomposition.

FIG. V is a repetition of the previous figure, however, with componentsshown separately.

FIG. VI is a schematic of the parallelogramic motion of the mobilestructure as well as the covering plates.

FIG. VII shows in detail the gyration and motion of the covering plates.

FIG. VIII is a perspective view of the complete roof.

FIG. IX is a front view showing the roof completely closed.

FIG. X shows the profile of one type of plate.

'FIG. XI is a detail of the tying up of the covering plates to eachother, when expanded.

The expandable roof is composed of two or more supporting arms 1, ofcovering plates 8 and intermediate supporting elements 6 for the purposeof obtaining a parallelogramic rotating movement of the unit.

These arms 1, frontally mounted as by hinge supports 2 and in perfectalignment with respect to the vertical wall or pillar, define asupporting plane or area which is not necessarily straight but takes aposition according to the external form desired for the roof. Thissupporting plane forms with the axis of the hinge 2 an angle a (see FIG.II) which is not necessarily with respect to the rotation axes orientedto a determined direction A which, as shown, is not necessarilyvertical. Each of the arms 1, is provided with a number of bores 3adapted to receive L-shaped pins 5 in parallel and located in homologouspoints, all in a B direction (see FIG. II) forming an angle of any kindwhich, however, is more or less consistent with the A direction. Thesebores 3 and pins 5 receive the structural elements 4 of the roof whichare supported on them.

The roof is provided with two or more of such transverse supporting bars4 which are similar and mounted in parallel with respect to the verticalwall or pillar and, therefore, said bars 4 extend transversally withrespect to the arms 1. These bars 4 are linked to the arms 1 by means ofsaid L-shaped pins 5 at all the crossing points, one of the legs of eachL rod pivoting in an arm 1 at the indicated inserting points of Bdirection, and the other leg of each L rod pivoting in the transversalbars 4 in a constant direction-not necessarily perpendicular to them,forming the two legs of this L, that is, the two pivoting directions atan angle b which is not necessarily 90. The referred to transverse bars4 are provided with a number of bores 6 which are parallel and uniformlyspaced, all oriented to a C direction (see FIG. II) of any kind, thesebores being for the purpose of inserting and articulating the platesupports.

The roof covering in closed position, is formed by plates 8 which may berectilinear or any other desired shape, and which have the rear edge ofone plate resting on the front edge of the previous plate of the series,the entire series corresponding in length and approximately in profileto the area defined by the arms 1. These plates are mountedtransversally to the supporting bars 4 and, therefore, frontally to thevertical wall, each plate being fixed to the supporting bars 4 in allcrossing points by means of articulatable L-shaped pins 7, one leg ofthe L rods 7 being transverse with respect to the plates 8 and the otherleg being inserted and articulated on the bores 6 (indicated in the Cdirection) of the supporting line of transverse bars 4. The two legs ofthe L-rods or pins 7 form an angle c (see FIG. I) which is not 3necessarily 90 but can be any desired angle which forms an L. e

Finally, there are provided means for reciprocally hooking the plates 8(FIG. XI), which in the expanded position tie the rear edges of theplates to the front edges of the next consecutive plate in the series bythemselves or through respective supports.

Principal advantages of the expandable roof:

(a) It permits covering of large spaces, reducing the number of pillars,since the transversal bars 4, leaning as they are on the supporting arms1, jump easily the distances assuring a firm support of the roof. Anextremely light roof is obtained, which is operated with a minimumeffort;

(b) The roof plates 8, being mounted somewhat perpendicular to the wall,form, when closed, a single plane, practically without mendings,allowing for the easy and quick flow of rain water and even snow. Theunion of the plates between themselves may be complemented by one singlepiece;

(c) The sets of articulable pins provide for relative motion of theplates in the horizontal plane, both for opening and closing, by asimple gyration effect, considering that the center of gravity does notchange. Thus the remarkable facility with which the whole roof can bemoved;

(d) The choice of the A, B, and C, directions as well as the a, b, and cangles, offers effects of relative movement, with preferentialtendencies of stabilization in certain points of the course, or ofindifferent equilibrium. One may thus obtain, according to the operatorswill, more or less sun, more or lesse shade, or more or less air in theextreme positions; I

(e) By the tremendous facility with which it is operated, the roof maycover and uncover large areas, without the use of pillars or similars.Its application in industry and agriculture, is relevant;

(f) The connecting of all the elements between themselves, at the end ofgyration, produced by the L hooks, provides strong endurance againstwinds.

In summary, it is claimed as characteristical essential points thefollowing.

I claim:

What is claimed is:

1. An expandable and collapsible roof comprising at least two supportingarms,

means to pivotally mount said arms on a vertical Wall,

at least two transverse supporting bars,

means pivotally mounting said transverse bars onto said supporting armsadjacent the crossing points and in parallel relationship so that saidsupporting arms and transverse bars form a parallelogram the shape andarea of which can be varied from rectilinear to the substantiallycompletely collapsed condition by pivoting said arms,

a series of similarly constructed nestable plates adapted to form thecovering of said roof, and, means pivotally mounting each of saidnestable plates onto the said transverse supporting bars.

2. The roof as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means pivotally mountingsaid transverse bars onto said supporting arms comprises L-shaped rods,said supporting arms and transverse bars containing bores to receive aportion of the legs of said L-shaped rods.

3. 'The roof as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means pivotally mountingsaid nestable plates onto the transverse bars comprise L-shaped rods,each of said transverse bars comprising a series of similarly directedbores, each bore of said series receiving at least a portion of one legof one of the L-shaped rods, and means on the underside of said platesreceiving the other leg of one of said L-shaped rods.

4. The roof as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nestable plates areconstructed so that the rear side of one plate of said series catchesagainst the front side of the next adjacent lower plate when the platesare extended.

5. The roof as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plates are curveddownwardly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,492,315 4/ 1924 Walker.2,556,210 6/ 1951 Obenchain l9 2,572,944 10/1951 Mullin 160*62 2,699,8231/1955 Zvei-bil 16062 2,930,088 3/1960 Sims 52-76 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY,Primary Examiner P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 52-75

